UX Researcher - Elsa Amri
UI Designer - Elsa Amri
Visual Designer - Elsa Amri
This project involved redesigning the Android mobile application for Last.fm using existing user feedback regarding its look and functionality. The objective was to improve the look and feel of the app by modernising it, whilst also incorporating more features that were previously exclusive to the website. An analysis of the existing app was conducted in order to better understand user expectations of the app.
Last.fm is a music app that tracks (scrobbles) your listening history from Soundcloud, Spotify, Deezer, and other music apps. The app also allows you to ‘love’ specific tracks, as well as view your personal artists, albums and listening charts. The website lets you view charts (most popular artists and songs), recent releases and most loved tracks within a certain time period. You can also socialise with other users and save your favourite tracks.
In conducting a heuristic evaluation, these are the three most critical areas of opportunity that the app had in improving the user experience.
Majority of the app functions redirect the user to their web browser. There is no clear indication of when this is about to occur (i.e. a warning popup), limiting communication with users.
Users have to rely on the 'Back' button on their device if they tap a link that opens their web browser. There are no measures in place to ask the user if they are sure about actions before performing them. Providing no clear indication of which links are external or internal places the burden on users to recall this on their own.
Due to most of the app features being external (redirected to the web browser), there is little customization and flexibility provided to the user in how they use the app. There are very few opportunities to personalise the user experience because of the limited app functionality.
I reviewed user feedback of the existing app by analysing the reviews left by users on the Last.fm Play Store App page. By looking at the complaints and feedback provided, I was able to discern what the key issues were with the existing app.
As of the 29th of September 2020, this average was derived from 77,683 ratings, the majority of which were 1 star. A few review quotes can be found below.
“The app should be more than just a scrobbler and some charts. Last.fm is a social network.”
“It opens all the links and all the interaction is with the browser, it isn’t an app its just a shortcut for all the pages.”
I reviewed the feedback users had provided on the app and organised the most prominent concerns in an affinity map. Through this process, I was able to discern what the top-level or key insights were regarding how the app could be improved.
Users were most vocal about how most of the app functions redirected them to their mobile browser. It seemed that the app was only useful as a basic scrobbling platform, but all other features were inaccessible through the app itself. This was a point of frustration for users who would have preferred that the app incorporate more web features without redirecting users to the browser.
Users also felt that the app interface was not appealing. They wanted a more modern or aesthetic way for their music library to be displayed. There was also frustration in there being only one way to view tracks (in tile mode), and users would have preferred multiple options (such a list mode) that they could then choose from according to their preferences.
The lack of social features in the app was also a point of concern for users. They wanted more ways to interact with their friends and share music interests in the app. Despite the website including these features, users wished that the app would also provide them.
This applies to users that fervently use the app to record what they listen to, and regularly check in to view their history. They want the app to accurately document their artist and song preferences, and be able to discover other artists and music. They may also want to use the social features of the website through the app.
This applies to users that mainly want to use the app just to track their listening history. They may use the other features of the app from time to time, but ultimately their main objective is to build their personal library that they can review occasionally.
Based on my research and understanding of the target audiences, I was able to develop two personas. These different personas highlight the two types of users mentioned above, who would be most likely to use the Last.fm app. I was then able to create task flows according to what the persons would want the use the app for most.
Before proceeding with high-fidelity prototypes, I designed wireframes of each screen that the final prototype would consist of. I also linked the wireframes together to create a wireflow that would show the overall architecture of the app.
The primary font used by Last.fm is the National font. I decided to not change their primary font, because I did not want the redesign to completely change the app UI. I did adopt a second font, Avenir, to use with numbers, because I felt that the numerical characters fit the design better.
The primary font used by Last.fm is the National font. I decided to not change their primary font, because I did not want the redesign to completely change the app UI. I did adopt a second font, Avenir, to use with numbers, because I felt that the numerical characters fit the design better.
I redesigned the UI elements of the app to reflect a modern a feel. I made sure to incorporate the brand colours of Last.fm, whilst also adopting a new look.
The onboarding experience takes users through a quick preview of what the app consists of. It highlights some of the key features that users might be interested in. Following this step, users will then need to sign up or login.
Once logged in, users are taken to their personal profiles. Here they can view their current song favourites, recently listened to songs and their top artists, tracks and albums. The menu page provides users with the main sections of the app.
As users add their favourite songs to specific lists, they can use the app to view these songs. They can add or remove songs from these special lists at any time.
As users record their listening habits, reports are generated that can be viewed weekly, monthly, yearly or according to custom dates. The homepage allows users to discover new music and artists, and what their friends are listening to. The updated app also comes with its own music player that users can use to play tracks within Last.fm.
Overall, my Last.fm App case study was an extensive and insightful process that allowed me to better understand the nuances of user experience design. I was able to redesign the app experience so that it provided more functions for users, whilst also incorporating a more presentable visual outlook.
I was able to use a variety of research methods, but I did not spend time speaking with users directly, either through interviews or alternative means. Having direct conversation with users might have allowed me to gain more authentic data on the user experience.
